The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-04-16
FLORIDA SPONGES.

The Fishing Appliances and Contrivances
Carried by American Vessels.
The Florida sponge grounds form
three separate sgacts, one of which in
cludeS most of the florida Reefs, the
other two stretching northward along
the western coast, from near knclote
Keys to St, Marks in Appalachee Bay.
Their total area is about three thousand
square miles. The reef grounds are
mostly shallow, and are frequented by
comparatively small boats, while the
western or bay" grounds reach of
shore into depths of thir1y-tiyp feet,
where the use of larger vessels,is neces-
sary.
Nearly all the Florida spongng ves-
sells belong to Key West, which is the
eadquarters of the fishery. Asa class
they rank high among the sailing craft
of the Gulf of Mexico, are strongly and
trinity built, and have ample speed to
henable them to make quick voyages
and utilize eve y moment of time dur
ing pleasant weather. In 1880, the fleet
numbered about one hundred vessels,
mostly schooner riggel, and hanging
in size from five to forty-fve tons. Be
ing designed for large cargoes| having
comparatively little weight, the per.
sonal comforts of the crew are sacri-
feed to provide sufficient aceomoda-
tons for the catch. The men are quar-
tered in a small cabin at the after end,
leav ng the entire h Id for tho storage
of dried spolges, those freshly taken
being kept on deck.
| The fishing appliances, are few and
simple. A small boat, u lnng,hook and
a water glass compose the sponger' s
outfit; but patience and deMterity are
equally essential to success aud the
latter can be acquired only by long
continued practice. Tho small boats,
called dingeys, are light sculling
yawls, twelve to fifteen feet long and
four to five feet wide; the sponge hooks
are, in reality, thrce-pronged iron
spears, slightly curved, and fastened
to the end of Il long pole, sometime,
over thirty-fye in length, this being
the greatest dept in which the Florida
sponges are taken.
The sponge orwater' glass is a simple
but necessary device when tn surface
is at ruflled by the wind, and en-
ables the sponger to continue his wOrl
through moderate v stormy weather
1t was formerly made of a small sqNar,
box, minus its cover, by replacing thu
bottom with piece of window glass
now common water bucket, with glas
bottom, is used instead and to create
advantage. By holding this glass upol
the surface and looking throagh il
small objects my be plainly seen upol
the bottom, even at depths q man,
feet.
Having provided the vcss'l and fish
ing-gear, q crew is engaged, an
enough provisions are laid ia TO last a
entire cruise. which occupies from on
to two months. The crew consists g
a ok and from four to fourteen fish
ermen, one ( whom acts as captain
Beside the cook an even numter is a
D ways employed, as it is Customary I
G fish in pairs, each of the small boats +,
curing men, one iO act rs "Scu
t lcr," the other as 'h0,kpr' or 'boy
man." The owners Of the vessels gci
r erilly furnish the entire outfi and pr
visions, taking one-half of the catch
= payment, the other half beiag divid,
among the fishermen, vhn are, ther
) fore, not paid stated wages. althou.
i the captain generally receives ext
: compensation for his greater ,csponi
s 5ility in directing the work.-tAaaIa
u lSaA